"The Finglongerer" a Contactless Tool (w/ optional touch screen poker)

thingiverse

I wanted to create a simple contactless door opener, but it ended up being more complicated than I initially thought. As the head of a research group focused on microbial infections, including COVID-19, I wanted to provide my team with additional protective equipment for their daily lives. This contactless device consists of three parts and some extra filament pegs glued together. It can push doors, carry bags, turn lever doorknobs, close bathroom stall latches, punch buttons, be used with a touch screen, and even hold cards out, all without bringing you into contact with its touchpoint surfaces. This is an issue with many devices on the market. The problem with FDM prints and sterility lies in their surface features that allow bacteria and viruses to hide in, even when sprayed with disinfectants. Although I recommend still disinfecting with 60% ethanol, the best option is to cover touchpoints when not in use. Designs with cases included require two hands to operate, one to hold the case and the other to use the device. One of the best designs I've seen so far to address this issue is the switchblade design of the Door Opener Advance by crashdebug: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4285461 However, I didn't like that it was not easy to operate with one hand and still had potential contact risk in the handle when opening and closing the door opener. My design features a guard built into the handle, can be printed and assembled without supports in PETG for strength in under an hour. If you want to use a touch screen, I've included that option as well, just print the alternative pusher tool and the corresponding capacitative skin (use capacitative PLA). I have another design in the works, this one with a thumb switch and one without, featuring a simpler case shape and thumb bumps for a better user feel. I recommend printing both options and testing them to see which feels right for you. I printed everything in 100% infill for extra strength. I can lift a 45lb weight in a bag without it breaking, but that might be overkill. For assembly, you'll need about 6mm pegs of filament to align the two shells together trapping the tool in the middle. Hold it all together with glue. Enjoy and let me know if you have any suggestions. Here are the materials used: - ProtoPasta conductive/capacitative PLA (two options below): - 150g - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BDL4BY0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=biomajor8-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BDL4BY0&linkId=7ab205b7c7f108b8cd7bc13890e6da80 - 500g - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BDL4BY0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=biomajor8-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BDL4BY0&linkId=7ab205b7c7f108b8cd7bc13890e6da80 - PETG: - I used Prusa Translucent Violet - A good alternative in the States - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BDL4BY0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=biomajor8-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BDL4BY0&linkId=7ab205b7c7f108b8cd7bc13890e6da80 - Also black https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BDL4BY0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=biomajor8-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BDL4BY0&linkId=7ab205b7c7f108b8cd7bc13890e6da80 - BSI extra thick cyanoacrylate - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BDL4BY0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=biomajor8-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BDL4BY0&linkId=7ab205b7c7f108b8cd7bc13890e6da80